Professors:
K. Branco
C. Dolgon

Assistant Professors:
J. Gill
P. Kelley
A. Twyman-Ghoshal

Faculty Fellow:
L. Carlson
R. Wolff

Professor Emeritus:
J. Broderick

The Department of Sociology and Criminology offers majors and minors in Sociology and in Criminology and a minor in Anthropology.

Departmental Mission

The Department of Sociology and Criminology’s mission is to advance those qualities of mind that enable our students to understand the relationship between society and the individual, history and biography, and public issues and personal troubles. The department seeks to develop students’ ability to think theoretically about the larger social reality, to understand and appreciate social reality, to understand and appreciate the many cultures represented in the modern world, and to abandon stereotypical thinking for knowledge based on the results of empirical observation. The department strives to develop students’ critical thinking and knowledge not only in pursuit of academic excellence but also the pursuit of social justice and service to improve the quality of life for all members of society.

The Sociology and Criminology majors also provide a foundation for careers in many fields, such as social service and human resources, criminal justice and the law, research in public and private agencies, and preparation for graduate work in sociology, criminology, law, social work and related areas.

Learning Outcomes

Majors in Criminology will:

develop a critical understanding of the major theories which underlie criminology and criminal justice including the effects of economic, racial, ethnic, gender, cultural, and religious diversity on crime and issues of social justice.

be able to utilize criminological theory and research to understand and analyze criminal justice practice and policy initiatives.

understand and employ qualitative and quantitative research methods in order to formulate practical and meaningful research questions.

develop an understanding of the ethical and social justice implications of criminology, through the exploration of human rights issues.

acquire written and oral communication skills, problem solving abilities, understanding of the basic principles of criminal law, practical experience and general knowledge of criminal justice to prepare students to work in the field of criminology.

Criminology students gain a keen understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of the study of crime while appreciating its social and structural contexts. Ethical and social justice issues from both the accused’s and victim’ points of view are emphasized throughout our courses. Practical application is also achieved through the use of specific adjunct faculty and the rigorous internship experience.

Majors in Sociology will:

Our goal is that all of majors and minors in sociology will develop the following capabilities and qualities of mind to apply and critically evaluate social interactions, work settings, neighborhoods, the nation, and the global community:

Comprehensive knowledge of sociological perspectives, concepts, theories and research methods and the ability to link theory and methods.

Understanding of how all social institutions, including but not limited to the family, education, politics, and the economy, are interrelated and how social, cultural, and historical factors influence identities, thoughts, and actions of self and others.

Understanding of the multiple dimensions of diversity and inequality in and between societies, including but not limited to race, class and gender, and how they affect individuals’ lives and the development of institutions.

Understanding multiple points of view and critical thinking, creative problem-solving, and civic engagement to develop viable solutions to local and global issues.

Sociology students develop their sociological imaginations, seeing the connections between self and other as well as between biography and history. They accomplish this through learning essential theoretical and methodological tools of the discipline. We want them to think comparatively, historically, and critically about multiple axes of difference. Forging this quality of mind not only prepares them to be stronger students but also engaged citizens.